2018 J/FEST Southwest Regatta at Lakewood Yacht Club - Preview
by J/Boats 11 Oct 2018 09:31 PDT
12-14 October 2018
J/Fest Southwest 2017 © Eric Moorehead
This year's J/FEST Southwest Regatta will be taking place from October 12th to 14th, hosted by Lakewood YC on Clear Lake and on Galveston Bay. J/Owners from across the spectrum are participating in PHRF handicap racing as well as in one-design classes for J/22s, J/24s, J/70s, and J/105s. Come one, come all, still not too late to head south and enjoy some fun in the Texas sun, great beer, and awesome TexMex food!
In the one-design world, the boats to watch include father/son combo Farley & Barrett Fontenot's J/22 USA 707, Natalie Harden's GIGGLES keeping the J/24 boys in check, Bill Draheim's PONY and Jay Lutz's ZOUNDS topping the J/70 pack, and Bill Lackenmacher's RADIANCE brilliantly showing the path for the J/105 fleet.
The J/PHRF fleets in the Asym Class and Distance Class look a bit formidable. In the PHRF Asym group, JD Hill's gorgeous J/122 SECOND STAR should lead the fleet around the track. Then, in PHRF Distance fleet, it's anyone's guess with a pair of J/29s, a J/95 and J/46 wondering what kind of "random-leg" track will determine the outcome of the race on Galveston Bay!
Since it was such a HUGE hit last year, the "LEGENDS RACE" will take place on Clear Lake, right in front of the club. This year, it will be a fleet of J/22s with live commentary on-site and on Facebook Live off the patio of the "party-barge" called BARGE 295. There will be five (5) video cameras recording the live action!
On Friday October 12th at 3:45 PM CST the broadcast for the Legends Race will go "live".
For more J/FEST Southwest sailing and registration information click here.